Tree for boots or shoes.



No. 69|,305. Patented lan. I4, |902.

H. A. BALLARD & W. A. COPELAND.

TREE FOR BOOTS 0B SHOES.

lApplication led Oct. l0. 1901.)

4 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model) k@ Q .www .QSE 5 v w S QS QE S s) ma Q ,.nxmwlwnwludww V FO -..-..-Owii o \\W N91 \o3 9% www@ M, .m

TM: Nunms PETERS co.. Pnomumo.. wAsN|NG1oN,-D, c.

y Patented 1an. |4, |9o2. H. A. BALLARD & w. A. coPELANn.

TREE FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

(Application led Oct. 10, 1901.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(Nov Model.)

STAM. .mw

Awww $00 1 cams svela No. 69i,305. Patented lan: I4, |902. H. A. BALLARD W. A. CO.PELAND.

TREE FORl BOOTS OR SHOES.

\Applcatiun led Oct. l0, 1901.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

No. 69|,3o5. y Patented 1an. I4, |902.k

H. A. BALLARD & w. A. coPELAND.

' TREE FOR Buo'rs 0R sHoEs.

l .(Application filed Oct. 10, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

WWNESSEE.:

Unirse 'STATES PATENT Ormes..

HARRIE A. BALLARD, OF ASHLAND, AND WILLIAM A. COPELAND, OF

MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO COPELAND BOOT AND SHOE TREEING COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

TREE FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691,305, dated January 14, 1902.

Application iiled October l0, 1901. Serial No. 78,194. UNO mOdeLJ To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that We, HARRIE A. BALLARD, of Ashland, and WILLIAM A. COPELAND, of Melrose, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trees for Boots or Shoes, of which the following is a specification. 1

This invention has relation to trees for boots and shoes.

In order to perform its work perfectly, a tree should conform to two important requirements. First, it should beV capable of such expansion that the shoe thereon may be stretched or expanded to its original proportions and shape when on the last during its manufacture. This is essential, since leather contracts as it dries, and as a shoe is generally removed from a last prior to its drying it gets out of shape and is reduced in size. Second, the tree must be collapsible to such an extent that it may be readily placed in and removed from the shoe without breaking it or injuring the lining. This, too, is essential in order that the shoes may remain in the condition to which they are stretched without being broken or pulled out of shape and without being torn or otherwise marred and defaced. In addition to these requirements a tree should be capable of use in connection with shoes of various shapes and sizes. Heretofore this has been accomplished imperfectly and to a small extent by equipping a single body with laterally-expansible sides and providing a plurality of detachable feet and backs to be secured to the body; but this has not proved entirely successful for several reasons. First, the backs have been formed to expand the sides by the engagement of the side edges of theback with the brasses, so called, which were attached to the expansible side portions in order that the surface of the back might be Hush with the surfaces of the sides. Hence, although the foot was likewise equipped with provisions for expanding the sides, yet the expansion of the sides by the back prevented the foot from expanding the sides to any appreciable extent. The result of this has been that the'sides were expanded by the back prior to the insertion of the tree into the shoe,

and the actual lateral expansion or collapse of the tree by the placement or removal of the shoe has been so inconsiderable that there has been no diminution in the breaking,

' marring, or injuring of the shoe or the lining.

The provisions on the tree-foot for expanding the side portionsof the body have consisted of lugs or projections to engage the under sides of the side portions and force them out against the tension of the spring parts to which they are secured. This in itself has been detrimental to the proper operation of the tree, since the springs become sluggish and fail to draw the sides to collapsed position upon the removal of the foot or the back, and thus even When a foot of extra large size is employed in connection with the body and the cam-lugs thereon expand the side portions of the tree the Withdrawalof the foot has not been followed by the collapse of the side portions, due not only to the sluggisnness of the spring, but likewise to the fact that the expansion of the side portions provided an open space for the reception of foreign matter-such as dust, chalk, or such material as is inserted in the shoe to enable it to be more easily placed upon the tree. Consequently, although the side parts might have been expanded when an abnormally-sized foot was employed in connection with thebody and back, yet the side portions were not able to collapse, and their employment rendered the tree no more efficient, so far as the insertion or removal of the shoe is concerned, than if the body were solid. Being aware of these defects in trees of the character` referred to, it has been our purpose to provide a tree which shall complywith the two essential requirements hereinbefore referred tonarnely, a tree which can be so collapsed as to be inserted in and removed from the shoe Without injury to the latter and which can be so expanded as to completely fill the shoe and stretch it to its shape and proportions during the process of manufacture. In accomplishing these objects we have likewise sought to provide means for positively contracting the side portions after they have been expanded,

so as not to be compelled to rely upon the operation of a spring, as in the case of the trees hereinbei'ore referred to. Consequently, ac-

cording to our invention, the side portions are not only expanded positively during the insertion of the tree into the shoe or the placing of the shoe on the tree, but are positively collapsed to permit the removal of the shoe from the tree. In providing for the collapsing of the tree to the greatest extent wehave obviated the necessity of employingr a plurality of backs to be used in connectionwith a single body by the provision of a collapsible back. This back, according to our invention, may be laterally collapsible or may be collapsible in addition to the movement of the entire back relatively to the body in lines longitudinal of the sole ofthe tree. The illustration of the embodiment of the invention hereinafter described represents the back as being formed ot' two side portions which are connected to or engaged with the expansible sides of the body, so that the expansion or contraction of the sides of the body by the tree-foot during the placing of a shoe upon the tree effects the lateral expansion of the sides of the back, and the contraction of the sides of the bodyor leg during the initial movement of the tree-foot in the operation of removing the shoe fromthe tree effects the contraction of the back and permits the ready removal of the shoe with less danger of breaking or marring than has been possible with trees as heretofore constructed. The illustration of the present embodiment of the in vention likewise represents the back as being formed with a plurality of articulated sections, whereby the back may be caused automatically to conform to the back portion of a boot or shoeirrespective of its size or shape. Thus not only,according to our invention, can a single back be provided for the body, but the said back being automatically adjusted, expansible, and collapsible is adapted for use on shoes of various sizes and shapes, and by the provision of the back having the yielding articulated sections the top part of the tree-that is, that portion of the tree which receives the top part of the boot or shoe--is yielding to compensate for variations in the size and contour of the said top parts of boots and shoes.

In addition to the features hereinbefore briefly referred to We have likewise had for our object to provide certain improved features of construction and arrangement of parts, by means of which the tree is rendered simpler in construction and easier to manufacture than heretofore. These more minor features are pointed out in detail in the following specication.

Referring now to the drawings, which, as stated, are not intended to show all of the embodiments of the invention, but merely to illustrate the best formsof the said invention now known to us, Figure 1 represents in side A'elevation a tree embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section through the same with the tree collapsible.

Fig. 3 represents a similar section with the tree expanded. Figs. 4 and 5 represent sections to show the expansion and contraction ofthe sides and back. Fig. 6 represents the manner of removing the tree-foot from the slide. Fig. 7 represents the laterally eXpansible and collapsible back. Fig. 8 represents a connecting-block for one of the articulated sections. Fig. 9 represents one ofthe sect-ions. Fig. 10 represents the slide to which the foot is secured. Fig. 11 represents the foot with the slide attached thereto. Fig. l2 represents the'foot with the slide detached. Fig. 13 represents the lower part of the leg or body. .Fig.'l4 represents the same with one of the expansible sides removed. Fig. 1,5 represents one of the expansible sides. Fig. 16A represents a section on the line 16 16 of Fig. 2. Fig. 17 represents another embodiment of the invention in which the end section of the back has an independent collapsible expansible movement to shorten the inner foot of the leg additional to the contraction of the foot by the movement of the back relatively to the body or leg. Fig. 1S representsa somewhat similarsectiombnt shows the parts expanded. Fig. 19 represents a section von line 19 19 of Fig. 17. Fig. 2O represents half of the independent collapsible back section and also the part to which it is pivoted.

The present illustrated embodiment of the invention has certain constructional features which are illustrated and described in the copending application of Harrie A. Ballard, Serial No. 76,464, filed September 24, 1901, and reference may therefore be hadA to said application for a more specific description of the parts to which brief reference is herein made.

On the drawings, 30 indicates the body of the tree, which is provided with the usual cylindrical portion 3l, rotatively mounted in a journal 32. The leg or body is formed of metal, being hollow for the reception of the actuating mechanism to be hereinafter de scribed. The foot 33, of which there is a plurality for each leg, is constructed, as usual,

,of Wood, and toits top is secured a metal plate 34, having an interlocking hook or rib 35 on its rear edge. This plate is apertured, as at 36, for the'rcception of a lug or hook 37 on a slide 38, operable in a raceway in the leg. The back of the tree-foot is provided with a groove 39, which extends from top to bottom, the upper end of the groove being bridged by the apertured plate 34. Across the lower end of the groove 39 isa plate 40, which is secured to the back ofthe foot 33. This plateis grooved at 41 and is notched, as at 42, the notch coinciding with the groove 39 in the wooden foot. Refel-ring to Fig. 10, in connection with Figs. 6, 12, and 13, it will be seen that the slide 38 is formed with the rib 43, adapted to tit accurately Within the groove 39 of th'e foot, being provided with a notch 44 to receive Vthe plate 40. Within a slit 45, formed in the end of the slide, there is placed a pivoted catch 46, which is adapted to engage the'plate 40 and lock the foot of the slide. This locking- IXO catch is provided with a lu g 47, against which a leaf-spring 48 bears, as shown in Fig. 6, to hold the catch in locking position. The said catch is likewise provided with a projecting handle 49, located conveniently for manipulation by an operator to free the plate 40 and permit the removal of the foot. The rib 35 is adapted to be placed in interlocking position with the hook 37, as shown in Fig. 6, after which the engagement of the dog with the plate 40 holds the foot so rmly to the slide that it is incapable of movement relatively thereto. The slide 38 is beveled, as at 50, to slide in a raceway 51, having the undercut edges or sides 52 52. This raceway is formed in the leg or body, the said body being cut away, as shown in Fig. 13, to receive the foot. The plate 34 when the foot is -in position abuts against the surface 53 on the leg, the rib 35 tting in the socket 54, whereby the foot is held against lateral movement with respect to the leg not only by the slide, but by the direct interlocking engagement of the foot with the leg. The movement of the slide relatively to the leg or body is limited by the screw-pin 56, this screw-pin likewise serving the function of holding the leaf-spring 48 in place. Access to the screw-pin is had through an aperture 57, formed in the leg, the head of said screw-pin sliding in a groove 58, formed in the leg or body, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The upper or inner end of the slide is formed with a second hook 59, with which is adapted to engage a hooked spring-latch in the leg. As will be subsequently described, this latch is operable when the tree is expanded to hold the foot against movement and is thrust into inoperative position when the tree is collapsed. The raceway for the slide is inclined relatively to the longitudinal median lines of the leg or body, so that when the foot is moved away from the body the distance between toe and heel is decreased. This we consider a desirable feature of the invention in combination with the means which we will subsequently describe for collapsing the tree laterally.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 13, 14, 15, and 16, it will be observed that the body or leg is provided with the expans'ible side pieces 62 62. These side pieces are provided with beveled ends 63, which tit in undercut sockets in the leg. (See Fig. 13.) Said side pieces are held against dislocation by side guards or brasses 64, which are attached to the leg or body by screws and to the said side expansion-pieces by screws 66. The lower or outer ends of the guards are bent inward, as at 67, Figs. 4 and 5, and secured in sockets 68, formed in extensions 69 on the ends of the side pieces 62. The extensions 69 on the side pieces 62 project beyond the leg in a direction longitudinal to the median line of the sole of the tree. By this construction the inner lower ends of the side guards or brasses are secured beneath the sur,- faces of the side pieces, so that the surfaces of the side pieces and the surfaces of the guards coincide or are flush, as shown in Fig. 13. Each of the side pieces 62 is formed with a lug 70, by means of which said side pieces may be expanded. The plate 40, to which reference has been previously made, is formed with two diverging cam-slots 71 71 in its face. These cam-slots are so formed that when the slide is moved to the position shown in Fig. 2 from, the position shown in Fig. 6 the walls of the cam-grooves engage the projections or lugs 70 and force the sides outwardly or expand them laterallyagainst the tension of the guards 64, which possess considerable inherent elasticity. Upon moving the foot and the slide in the opposite direction, however, the opposite walls of the cam-grooves contract the side parts and draw them together, so that they are positively collapsed. The inclination of the cam-slots 71 with relation to each other is such that the movement of the side parts is rapid-that is to say, the spreading or expansion of the side pieces is effected by the last portion of the movement of the foot and the collapse of the side parts is effected during the initial movement of the foot toward inoperative position. In actual operation the initial movement of the foot to the extent of a quarter or three-eighths of an inch effects the collapse of the tree, so that but a slight movement of the foot is 'necessary to collapse the tree sufficiently to permit the removal of the shoe without danger of injuring it.

For the purpose of assisting the side guards in holding the expansible sides of the leg against dislocation we provide guides 72, which are attached to the leg and project laterally into slits or sockets 73 in said sidesas shown in Figs. 14 and 15. Itis to be observed in this connection that the upper ends 63 of the sides are at substantially a right angle to the raceway or path of movement of the slide, and consequently the movement of the sides is in planes parallel with the plane of movement of the foot and the slide. Therefore we provide for the simultaneousshortening or collapse of the tree from toe to heel and the lateral collapse of the leg, a thing that has been impossible with all prior constructions, for it will be seen that it would be impossible to combine the expansible sides with the slanting raceway if the sides should move in planes intersecting the plane of movement of the slide and foot. Consequently, one of the IOO IIO

important features of the present invention is the combination, with the slantin g raceway, the slide, and the foot, of the laterally-expansible leg expanded by the movement of the footpiece to operative position.

The back,which is detachable from the leg, is formed of a plurality of parts. The main body portion of the back is illustrated in Fig. 7, being indicated at 80. It is formed with the solid end 81, having the lugs 82 to enter the sockets 83 in the leg, as shown in Fig. 3, being held therein by the nuts 84 and 85 on the screw 86, projecting laterally from the leg.V This portion of the back is formed with two separable side strips 87 87, terminating in the heel portions 88. Said side strips are at their lower ends inserted between the guards 64 and ribs 89, formed on the extensions 69 of the eXpansible side pieces 62, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. The heel portions 88 are in alinement with the ends of the eX- tensions 69, so that they may abut thereagainst when the tree is entirely collapsed, as shown in Fig. 2. By lreason of the engagement of the side strips 87 of the back 80 with the expansible side pieces 62 the expansion of the side pieces of the leg effects a lateral expansion ot the back, although the back maybe moved for some little distance away from the leg, inasmuch as the said side strips 87 may slide between the guards 64 and the ribs 89 on the side pieces 62. The side strips 87 are cut away for the reception of a plurality of articulated sections 93, arranged-between the heel portions 88 and the top portion 91 of the back. The socket in the back for the reception of the sections is'substantially rectangular when seen in side view, as shown in Fig. 7. Each section is U-shaped and is secured by a screw to a block 90, which has at its ends hooks 92 to engage similar hooks on the adjacent blocks. The sections 93 overlap one another, so as to form a continuous surface from the solid portion 91 to the heel portions 88. The side edges ot the sections 93 overlap the side strips or bars 87, as shown in Fig. 16, but are in turn overlapped by the free edges of the side guards. Two springs are employed for holding the sections in place, one arranged exteriorly and the other interiorly. The exterior spring is indicated at 98, and it is secured by a screw 99 to each section. The ends of this spring bear against thesolid portion 91 of the back andalso against the portions 88 of the heel-section. The interior spring is indicated at 100. Its lower or outer end is secured by a screw 101 to one of the heel-pieces 88 and its inner or upper free end is passed under a lug 102 on the part 91. The sections are thus held between the two springs and they provide a flexible back which is automatically adjustable to fit shoes or boot-s of various styles or sizes. The back is therefore not only collapsible laterally, but is also collapsible in lines longitudinal of the sole of the tree.

The parts 88 on the ends of the side strips 87 may be considered as the lowest divided section of the plurality of sections which make up the back of the tree, and it will be understood that'they need not be formed in.-

6tegrally with the' said side strips, since they may have an independent movement relatively to said strips for the purpose of securing a greater collapse of the tree in lines longitudinal of the sole than has hithertov been possible. For instance, in Figs. 17 to 2O it will be observed that the sections 104, which correspond to those at 88, are pivotally connected to the side strips 87 by the pintle 105.

Y In thisevent the two parts 104, which make up the last articulated section, are provided with fingers 106, adapted to bear against lugs 107 on the side strips 87 to limit the free movement of the section. not in this event attached by a screw to the parts 104, being, on the contrary, attached by a screw 108 to the solid portion 91 of the back and being passed loosely between two lugs 109 110 on each of the parts 104. The spring is so formed as-to normally draw the lower or outer section into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 17, and the initial outward movementof the back away from the body caused by the engagement of a sliding member with the spring 100 moves the said section into the position shown in dotted lines, since the said sections are pivoted on the pintle 105 to the side strip 87 Therefore in addition to the collapse of the tree, due to the bodily movement of the back, the independent movement ot' the lower or heel section of the back provides for additional collapse, whereby the bunch of the shoe may be drawn over the heel of the tree without the slightest danger of breaking the shoe or of tearing or injuring the lining.

The mechanism for eiecting the movement of the back differs but little from that described in the application to which reference has been previously made. To accomplish the expansion of the back or the movement of the back away from the leg or body, we employ a wedge (indicated as a whole at 115) adapted to be operated by the longitudinally-movable spindle or rod 116. The rod is adapted to be held normally in inoperative position or in position to eect the collapse of the tree by a spring'll. The said rod or spindle 116 is provided with an aperture 118 to receive the wedge 115. This wedge is elongated, as shown, and is provided with a rear edge 119 to bear against the spring 100 of the back. The Wedge is adapted to slide in suitable guides in a path at an inclination to the leg or body, so that the back is moved not only by a natural wedging action of the wedge, but also by its rearward movement. The guides for the wedge are indicated at 120, 121, and 122. The last-mentioned guides, 122, consist of grooves or ways to receive rolls or projections 123 on the wedge. The wedge lies in theaperturein the spindle or rod 116, being laterally movable with respect to said rod when the said rod is moved longitudinally. To positively return the back, the wedge has the edge 124 adapted to engage the cross pin or pintle 105, which loosely connects the side strips 87.

It is unnecessary that the wedge or the guides therefor' should be described more in detail than has been done, for the reason that it forms a part of the subject-matter of the application hereinbefore referred to and is not specifically claimed herein. It is sucient to state that the longitudinal movement of the rod `or spindle effects a move- The spring 100 is IOO IIC

IZO

ment of the wedge, and the edge 110 thereof is caused to bear against the spring 100 and force the back bodily away from the leg, the spring at the same time permitting the sections of the iexible back to yield, whereby the top part of the tree accommodates itself to the curvature of the back of the shoe which is on the tree. It should be observed in this connection that the yielding heel member is pivoted to the back at a point between the top and bottom of the footpiece when the latter is in proper position, so that the movement of said heel-piece or member is relatively slight, being sufficient, however, to permit the bunch of the shoe to move past it in thewithdrawal of the shoe from the tree. W'hen the back is collapsed, however, the sections 90 of the back yield independently of the movement ofthe heel member to assist in the easy removal of the shoe. By employing metallic articulated sections for the provision of a flexible top part having-a variable sinuous surface for the tree we are able to secure a hard surface to assist in the ironing, polishing, or other treatment of the top part of the shoe, while at the same time the sections are adapted to yield, as previously stated, to compensate for variations in the size or contour of the shoe or boot tops.

So Afar as we are aware we are the first to have ever provided a tree with a back which was of itself laterally collapsible and the first to have provided a ileXible back. These features we regard as of great importance and hereinafter claim them broadly. Again, so far as we are aware, we are the first to have combined in a tree the slan ting raceway for the foot with the laterally-extensible sides of the leg, as well as to have combined with the expansible sides the laterally-expansible back.

It will be understood that while we have described in detail the parts which form the tree, yet we are not limited to the precise construction shown and described,for we contemplate employing all mechanical equivalents for the parts to which we have referred.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, we-declare that what we claim is l. A tree having in combination,a laterallyexpansible leg or body, a footpiece movable relatively thereto at an inclination to the median line of the leg to shorten the distance between the heel and toe of the tree and provisions whereby said footpiece expands said body.

2. A tree having a leg, an inclined raceway in said leg, a footpiece movable in` said raceway, expansible and collapsible side pieces expanded and collapsed by said footpiece, as said footpieceis moved toward and from operative position.

-A tree having a leg, an inclined raceway in said leg, a footpiece movable in said raceway to vary the distance between the toe and heel of the tree, laterally-movable side pieces, and provisions whereby said side pieces are moved outward to expand the tree laterally coincidently with the movement of the footpiece to lengthen the distance between the toe and heel.

4. A tree havinga leg with expansible and collapsible sides and means for positively expanding and collapsing said sides.

5. A tree having expansible and collapsible sides, and a footpiece having provisions for positively expanding and contracting said sides.

6. A tree having expansible and collapsible sides, a footpiece movable at an inclination to the longitudinal median line of the leg, and provisions whereby said footpiece positively expands and contracts said sides.

7. A tre'e having a leg, an inclined raceway on the leg, a footpiece sliding on said raceway, eXpansible and collapsible side pieces movable in planes parallel to the plane of movement of the footpiece, and provisions whereby said side pieces are operated by said footpiece 8. A tree having a leg, an inclined raceway on the leg, a footpiece sliding on said raceway, expansible andl collapsible side pieces movable laterally in planes parallel to the plane of movement of the footpiece, and provisions whereby said footpiece positively expands or contracts said side pieces.

9. A tree having a leg, laterally-moyable side pieces, and a footpiece movable into and out-of operative position, said footpiece having inclined guides on its inner face, and said side pieces having members or projections for engaging said guides, whereby the movement of said footpiece to operative position moves said side pieces laterally.

l0. A tree having a leg, laterally-movable side pieces, and afootpiece movable longitudinally of the leg into and out of operative position, said footpiece having converging slots in its face, and said side pieces having lugs or members located in said slots, whereby the movement of said footpiece to and from operative position positively moves said side pieces outward from or inward toward said leg.

11. Atree havinga leg, a slide, a footpiece adapted to be attached to and detached from ICO said slide, and provisions additional to said ing longitudinally of its inner face to engage said groove, and thereby hold said footpiece against loose forward movement.

13. A tree having a leg with a raceway, a slide movable in said raceway, and a detachable footpece having provisions whereby it is detachably locked against forward movement at separatev points near its top and near its bott-om to said slide.

14. A tree having a leg with a raceway, a slide movable in said raceway, and a detachable footpiece, said slide having a latch and a hook, each of which is adapted to engage and hold the footpiece, against movement longitudinal of the sole of said footpiece.

15. A tree having a leg with a raceway, a slide movable in said raceway, a footpiece having a slot in its end, two separated plates bridging said slot, and two hooked members each of which engages one of said plates and holds the footpiece against movement longitudinal of the sole thereof.

16. A tree having a leg with a raceway, a slide movable in said raceway, and a footpiece having two locking members, said slide having a hook to receive and engage one locking member,a notch to receive the other locking member, and a latch to engage the lastmentioned locking member and hold it in said notch.

17. A tree-foot having at its top a plate with a locking-hook, and at o1 near its bottom a locking cross-plate.

18. A tree having a laterally-collapsible back.

19.4v A laterally-collapsible tree-back.

20. A tree having a laterally-collapsible legvand a laterally-collapsible back.

21. A tree ihaving a laterally-expansible leg, a laterally-expansible back, and a treefoot having provisions for laterally expand- `ing said leg and back.

22. A tree having a laterally expansible and collapsible back, and means for expanding and contracting said back.

23. A tree having a laterally expansible and collapsible back, and means for positively expanding and contracting said back.

24. A tree having a laterally expansible l and collapsible back, a tree-foot, and mechanism intervening between said tree-foot and said back by means ot' which the back is expanded by the movement of the foot. Y

25. A tree having a laterally expansible and collapsible back, detachably connected thereto.

26. A tr'ee having a leg, a laterally expansible and collapsible back, and means for moving said back bodily away from said legte expand the tree in lines longitudinal of the sole of the tree. r

27. A tree having a leg, a laterally-expansible back, means for moving said back bodily with felation to said leg, and independent means for expanding said back laterally.

28. A tree having the portion of thev leg which enters the shoe, collapsible from front to rear, and from side to side.

29. A tree having an inclined raceway, a tree-foot adapted to slide along said raceway to shorten the tree from toe to heel, and a laterally-collapsible back with provisions whereby the back is collapsed by the described movement of the tree-foot.

30. A tree having a back split longitudinally to provide two laterally-movable sections.

31. A tree-back consisting of a metallic structure having two connected sections adapted to be separated laterally.

A tree-back consisting of a metallic structure having a solid upper end, and two sections connected thereto and adapted to be laterally separated.

33. A tree-back consisting of a metallic structure having a solid upper end, two sections connected thereto and adapted to be laterally separated,and guards overlapping both sections to cover the space therebetween.

34. A tree having a-leg with laterally-movable sides, and a laterally-expansible back having its movable sections connected to said sides of the leg. v

35. A tree having a leg with laterally-movable side pieces,a back with laterally-movable sections, and side guards secured to the leg and side pieces and overlapping the back, said back-sections having portions fitting between the side guards and the side pieces.

36. A tree having a leg with laterally-movable side pieces,a back with laterally-movable sections, means for moving the back bodily away from the leg, and side guards secured to the leg and side pieces and overlapping the back,said back-sections having portions which fit slidiugly between said side guards and said side pieces.

37. A flexible tree-back havinga variable sinuous surface, whichcompensates for inequalities in shapes orV sizes of boot or shoe tops.

38.l A flexible laterally eXpansible and collapsible tree-back.

39. A tree having a liexible back with provisions whereby said back compensates for inequalities in shapes or sizes of boot or shoe tops. y

4.0. A tree-back having articulated sections each of which is movable with respect to the other or others. f

41. Atree-back havin g yielding articulated 'sections forming a yielding sinuous surface.

42. A tree-back having overlapping pivotal sections. l

43. A tree-back having a plurality of sections, and a spring to which said sections are connected.

44. A tree-back having side strips, and a plurality of sections overlapping said strips.

45. A tree-back .having an end and vside ICO IIO

strips connected thereto and a plurality of sections with their ends overlapping said side strips.

46. A tree-back comprisingapluralityof U- shaped sections and blocks flexibly connecting said sections.

47. A tree-back comprising a body and a plurality of overlapping sections divided by lines transverse to said back,` and means pivotally connecting said sections.

48. A tree-back comprising a plurality of U-shaped sections, a plurality of articulated blocks, and means connecting each section with a corresponding block.

49. A tree comprising a leg, a flexible back having a plurality ofvsections, a spring arranged interiorly of said sections, and means within said leg and bearing against said spring for bodily moving said back relativelyto said leg.

50. A tree having a movable [flexible back, a heel-piece pivoted to said back and provisions whereby said flexible back automatically conforms to the shape of the back of the shoe.

5l. A tree-back having a flexible body portion and a movable heel-section.

52. Alaterally-collapsible tree-back having a movable heel member.l

53. A laterally-collapsible tree-back having a movable heel member formed in two separable parts.

54. A laterally-collapsible tree-back having an end member yieldingly connected thereto.

55. A laterally-collapsible tree-back having a solid upper end, side bars or strips, a heel member pivoted to said strips, and members inserted between the said upper end and the said heel member.

56. Alaterally-collapsible tree-back having a loosely-movable heel-section and aplurality of articulated sections connected to said heelsection.

57. A tree having aleg with an inclined raceway, a foot movable along the said raceway to shorten the tree in the longitudinal lines of the sole, and a back having a collapsible heel-section to shorten the tree in the said lines, whereby the tree is collapsible in said lines by a movement of the foot and by a movement of the collapsible heel-section.

58. A tree having a laterallycollapsible back, said back havinganindependently-movable heel-section formed in two lateral coll lapsible parts.

59. A tree comprising a leg, a footpiece, a back, and an expanding device, said back consisting of side bars or strips, and connected members forming a flexible rear surface.

60. A tree comprising a leg, a footpiece, a back, and an expa nding device, said back consisting of three or more iiexibly-connected sections forming a variable sinuous operative surface which conforms to the shape of the boot or shoe.

6l. A tree comprising a leg, a footpiece, a back, and an expanding device, said back consisting of a body portion and two or more spring-held sections flexibly connected together to conform to the contour or shape of the rear part of a shoe or boot.

62. lA tree comprising a ieg, a movable footpiece, and a back, said b'ack having a pivoted heel member, and springs bearing against the interior and the exterior of said member.

63. A tree having a back provided with side bars, a heel member pivoted to said side bars, and a metallic strip on the rear of said back overlapping said member.

64. A tree having a back provided with side bars, a heel-section in pivotal relation to said bars, and having a socket, and a spring secured to the interior wall ofsaid back and arranged in said socket.

65. An expansible tree having a leg provided with a rearward projection at the shank, a movable back provided with an independently-movable heel member, said heel member having provisions for the reception of said projection when said tree is collapsed, and means for expanding said tree.

66. A tree having a leg with laterally-movable side pieces, aback having a laterally-expansible heel member movable relatively thereto, and provisions whereby the lateral expansion of the said member is coincident with the outward movement of said side pieces.

67. Atree having abackprovided withside bars and U-shaped sections overlapping said side-bars and capable of independent movement with respectto each other to accommodate boot or shoe tops having varying contours at the back.

68. A tree having a back provided with a collapsible heel member, and with yielding means located above or beyond said member to accommodate shoe or boot tops of diierent sizes or contours.

69. A tree having a leg, a footpiece movable into and out of operative position, and a back having a heel member pivoted thereto in a plane substantially midway between the top and bottom of the footpiece when the footpiece is in operative position.

70. A tree having a leg, a footpiece movable into and out of operative position, and a back having a plurality of yielding members, the end member being pivoted to said back independently of the other member or members at a lpoint midway between the planes of the top and the bottom of said footpiece when the latter is in operative position.

71. A tree having a back consisting of a body portion, and a plurality of yielding articulated sections extending from the heel end of said back to a point above the ankle.

7 2. A tree having a leg, a detachable foot-V piece, and a back, the top part of said tree being provided with a plurality of articulated IOO .said tree having a top pai-t consisting of sections, each of which is adapted to yield to l the contour oi' shape of the tops of boots and :u compensate for variations in the top parts of shoes. boots oi' shoes. In testimony whereof We have afxed our 73. A tree comprising a leg, a detachable signatures in presence-of .two witnesses. footpieee, a. back, and an expanding device, HARRIE A. BALLARD.

WILLIAM A. COPELAND.

Witnesses:

HELEN L. HAYNES,

GEORGE .W. MALOY.

two or more flexibly-connected yielding sections foiming a. Variable sinuous operative surface which compensates forl variations in 

